Memories of Wilfredo Tovar

[Edgy MD]

Signed away by the Twins, according to Rhett Bollnger of MLB.com.

• Looked 10 years older than his listed age, and impish.
  
  
  
• Came up with a rep as the best defensive shortstop in the Mets' system (at the time, anyhow), but never much got a chance to put that on display, logging 50 defensive innings over two seasons.
  
  
  
• Was reduced to mostly playing other infield positions at Vegas this season as the team tried to get as much work as possible there for Matt Reynolds.
  
  
  
• Called up very late in the season in both 2013 and 2014 when the Mets found themselves short on infielders at the end of the season.
  
  • In 2013, Ruben Tejada had broken a leg chasing a popup with about two weeks to go.
    
  • In 2014, he had actually been sent home, but ended up getting recalled with a week to go when Dilson Herrera strained a quad.
    
  • History could have given him an eleventh-hour trifecta with Ruben Tejada once again ending his season in a boot this year, but the team went for the super-green Matt Reynolds in the post-season, and out-righted poor Wilfredo instead. And thus he became a minor league freebie.

[nymr83]

i barely recognize the name, best of luck elsewhere though!

[Guest themetfairy]

I remember seeing Tovar as a B-Met in Trenton -



And during his call-up to the Mets -



There was always promise, but no specific memories of delivery.

I thought of him as Fettucine Wilfredo, so at least he won't be around to make me hungry any longer.

[Edgy MD]

Edgy MD wrote: ...and impish.

I give him too much attention on this score. He seems to have a closed-lip smile in every portrait. But I'm getting the idea that he's just shy about his teeth.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I mean he was a shortstop wearing No. 70.

[Edgy MD]

Yeah. A son of Sergio if ever there was one.